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  • 1.  FONT Difference

    Posted Wed September 23, 2020 03:00 AM
    Edited by System Admin Fri January 20, 2023 04:38 PM
    Hi Team,

    We are using Cognos Anlytics 11.1R5 version.we have developed one report and  while we ran  report in html the fonts are different when compared to pdf.is it known issue?

    Could you please someone help on this?

    Regards,
    Saranya

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    Uma Saranya Nadipalli
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    #CognosAnalyticswithWatson


  • 2.  RE: FONT Difference

    Posted Thu December 12, 2024 09:13 AM

    Hi Saranya,

    It is not uncommon for font rendering to differ between HTML and PDF outputs in Cognos Analytics. This issue may be related to the font embedding settings or the way fonts are handled in different output formats. Ensure that the fonts are properly embedded in the PDF report settings or use system fonts that are universally supported.

    If this doesn't resolve the issue, it might be worth checking IBM's support forums or contacting IBM support for further assistance.

    Regards Joe breath



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    Joe Breath
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  • 3.  RE: FONT Difference

    Posted Sat April 18, 2026 07:30 AM

    This is a known and very common Cognos behavior where HTML output uses web safe system fonts while PDF rendering uses a completely separate font engine, so the two outputs will almost never look identical by default. The fix is to explicitly set your report font to a specific font family like Arial in the report styles rather than leaving it as default, ensuring both HTML and PDF renderers pull from the same defined font source consistently.



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    codexa codexa
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  • 4.  RE: FONT Difference

    Posted Sun April 19, 2026 05:10 PM

    This font inconsistency between HTML and PDF is actually one of the most frequently reported Cognos pain points and the root cause is that PDF generation in Cognos uses a built in renderer that maps fonts differently than the browser does, so always test your reports in both output formats during development rather than discovering the font mismatch only after sharing the report with stakeholders.



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    Mason Brooks
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: FONT Difference

    Posted Sun April 19, 2026 05:10 PM

    Spot on, font mismatches between HTML and PDF are almost always a rendering engine issue, not a Cognos bug. Locking in a specific font like Arial in your report styles ensures consistent text appearance across both outputs.



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    Mason Brooks
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: FONT Difference

    Posted Sun April 19, 2026 05:12 PM

    Worth also checking your Cognos portal's CSS overrides since sometimes custom stylesheet rules applied at the portal level affect HTML font rendering but have zero impact on PDF output which bypasses the web layer entirely, making the two outputs look dramatically different even when your report styles appear correctly configured.



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    ethan carter
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: FONT Difference

    Posted Sun April 19, 2026 05:12 PM

    Another thing worth checking is whether your Cognos server has the same fonts physically installed as your local machine because if your report references a font that exists on your developer machine but not on the server, HTML might display it correctly by pulling from your local system while PDF generation fails to find it on the server and silently substitutes a completely different font instead.



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    Jordan Kim
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: FONT Difference

    Posted Mon April 20, 2026 03:24 AM

    Hi,

    The Andale WT font is no longer included with the Cognos Analytics v12.1.0. The new Cognos Analytics default font is IBM Plex Sans.

    Best regards,



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    Patrick Neveu
    BSL Consulting
    IBM Champion
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    Original Message


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